Broken Windows

Have you ever left a cup on the kitchen table and an hour later the whole kitchen is a mess?



If you have you have experienced the broken window theory:

The observation that a few broken windows in an empty building quickly lead to more smashed panes, more vandalism and eventually to break-ins. The tendency for people to behave in a particular way can be strengthened or weakened depending on what they observe others to be doing.

The thory developed by Dr. Keller in the beginning of the eighties has been a role model for crime reduction in several US cities and studies show that it has some sense to it. According to the theory, the prevention of the effect is to stop all kinds of small crimes - like grafitti, shoplifting etc - and violent and serious crime will drop as well. Since the theory was implemented in practice in many US cites (most famous is New York), you can see that violent crime rates dropping in many US cities.



Yes there are critics to the theory, but it still makes sense. Personally, I see that the insight is relevant in so many other areas that affect us - from the private to our business lifes. Hence, a great idea.

Clean you desk, wash your car, put the cups in the washing machine, allow no sloppy work in your team. Who knows what may happen if you don't.